Travelling from San Jose to Chicago: what you need to know
San Jose's main airport is Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Explore your departure options from this base when searching for flights from San Jose to Chicago.
When it comes to touching down in Chicago, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a key hub. Another is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
4 hours 10 minutes is the average journey time for a direct flight from San Jose to Chicago. Based in the UTC-5 timezone, Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Jose.
The busiest route for flights from San Jose to Chicago is from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). You can select from 10 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get going first thing, the earliest flight from SJC to ORD is the 06:21 United Airlines option. If you prefer to travel later, the last departure is at 23:00 with United Airlines.
For hassle-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your flight from San Jose to Chicago.
Heading away during a peak time like a bank holiday? Expect longer queues at security and check-in. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
You don't need your passport or a visa to travel within United States. You will need a valid proof of identity though, like a driver's licence or ID card. Put them on your packing list once you've booked your cheap flights from San Jose to Chicago.
Flying from San Jose
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
You can get a direct flight from San Jose to Chicago departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Start your journey at SJC and arrive at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Book your direct flight from San Jose to Chicago with United Airlines. This leading airline operates services from SJC.
We make it easy to find a flight from San Jose to Chicago with a stopover. To see your options departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Top stopovers include:
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) Airport (LAS)
SJC is around 6 kilometres from central San Jose. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 12 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be approximately 44 minutes.
Catching an early flight from San Jose to Chicago? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport:
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 40 kilometres. It takes around 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting there by public transport takes roughly 54 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from San Jose to Chicago. Stay at one of these accommodation options near ORD instead:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
The centre of Chicago is around 19 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). As soon as your flight from San Jose to Chicago has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 21 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 46 minutes on public transport.
You'll find some comfortable stays ready to welcome you near MDW. Unwind after your flight from San Jose to Chicago at one of these well-located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Jose to Chicago
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from San Jose to Chicago is ج.م. 2,987. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ج.م. 7,624. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares can change.
To snag cheap tickets from San Jose to Chicago, book your journey 9 months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from San Jose to Chicago. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from San Jose to Chicago. You don't need to look every day to find out if fares have dropped. We'll notify you the moment there's a change in price.
Use filters to tailor your flights from San Jose to Chicago. Simply enter your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to find the best deals.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the most popular month for flights from San Jose to Chicago. To escape the crowds, head to Chicago in February.
The warmest month in Chicago is July, with the temperature ranging between 15ºC and 29ºC. Book your flights from San Jose to Chicago in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
January sees average temperatures of between -12ºC and 3ºC. Search for cheap tickets from San Jose to Chicago sometime then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Chicago
Once you've booked your flight from San Jose to Chicago, think about where you'll stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Chicago:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are top attractions which should feature on every Chicago itinerary.
Complete your Chicago trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from San Jose to Chicago isn't our only cool trick. Check out our car rentals in Chicago and have more freedom to explore. We search for deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. You can instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.
